Taxpayers locked in dispute with HM Revenue & Customs can now settle their affairs using a one-day “quick fix”.

The taxman is fast-tracking aggrieved members of the public through to a hearing to hammer out a settlement within a few hours.

The one-day hearing involves a mediator, either an HMRC employee or an independent third party, listening to both sides of the story in an attempt to unlock the stalemate between the taxpayer and the Revenue. The mediator’s aim is to reach a settlement during the course of the day.

The scheme, called an alternative dispute resolution, was quietly rolled out by the Revenue at the end of last year, after a two-year trial.

The quick fix is available to all taxpayers, but is aimed at wealthier individuals or small-business owners who face a large tax bill with which they disagree.

Related Articles

Experts said HMRC had introduced the scheme to ease the strain on the tribunal system, which had a backlog of claims.

There were nearly 27,000 tax disputes waiting for a tribunal date in 2012-13, compared with 13,456 in 2009-10, according to the accountancy firm BDO.

Fiona Fernie, a tax investigations partner at the firm, said: “It takes an average of 70 weeks just to get to a hearing. This is locking up billions of pounds in uncollected tax, so it makes sense that the Revenue is pushing individuals towards the one-day hearings.

“But from the individual’s perspective the one-day quick fix is also desirable. In a way, individuals have got nothing to lose trying to get their tax bill down. If a settlement cannot be brokered, it will just go to a tribunal at a later date.”

But other tax experts warned the one-day quick fix had flaws. James Bullock, of tax firm Pinsent Masons, said only around one in two cases got settled on the day, as HMRC tended to drag its heels on large, complex cases.

“For more complex disputes HMRC is often reluctant to agree to any form of compromise and instead would rather see the matter go to a lengthy tribunal.

“The power is ultimately in the Revenue’s hands during these one-day trials; if they don’t want to compromise it will just get further passed up the chain.”

A spokesman for HMRC said: “The scheme is becoming more and more popular. Taxpayers like the speed of the process and the chance of sorting out their tax disputes before going to a tribunal.”

The Telegraph has received numerous correspondences from readers who have faced large tax bills. Another source of recourse is the independent Adjudicator’s Office, which arbitrates complaints about HMRC. Telephone 0300 057 1111.